Method and apparatus for liquid disinfection using light transparent conduit

Abstract

Some demonstrative embodiments of the invention include an illumination-based liquid disinfection device. The disinfection device may include, for example, a light transparent conduit to carry a flowing liquid to be disinfected, the conduit having an inlet to receive the liquid and an outlet to discharge the liquid, a substantially light transparent sleeve having external dimensions smaller than the internal dimensions of the conduit, the sleeve positioned within the conduit substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the conduit and a light source positioned within the sleeve.

1 . An apparatus for liquid disinfection by light, the apparatus comprising:
 a substantially light transparent conduit to carry flowing liquid to be disinfected;   a substantially light transparent sleeve having external dimensions smaller than the internal dimensions of the conduit, the sleeve positioned within the conduit substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the conduit; and   a light source positioned within the sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent sleeve comprises quartz. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises quartz. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent sleeve is being fused to said conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising additional sleeves positioned within the conduit substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent sleeve has a hydro-dynamic shape. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent sleeve has a patterned surface directed to affect light distribution inside the conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more objects are positioned within the conduit to affect the water flow pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more objects are positioned within the conduit to affect the light distribution within the conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit has a substantially cylindrical shape with varying diameter size at least at one portion of the conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of an external surface of the conduit is coated with a UV reflective coating. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises an inlet to receive the liquid, one or more branches to carry the liquid and an outlet to discharge the liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is positioned within a metal container having a see-through window. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is an ultraviolet light source. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source has a non-cylindrical elongated shape. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises two light transparent sections separated by a metal housing containing the sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the internal surface of the metal housing is coated by an ultraviolet reflecting coating. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the ultraviolet reflecting coating is coated with a UV transparent, UV resistant coating.